World / Europe

EU hopes to avoid Ukraine war with talks, sanctions threat 16 Dec 2021 - 11:41 am

BRUSSELS:A summit of European Union leaders on Thursday will focus on avoiding a Russian military invasion into neighboring Ukraine with threats of unprecedented...

COVID-19 Delta variant still predominant in Italy, Health Institute says 15 Dec 2021 - 11:47 pm

MILAN- The Delta variant of the coronavirus is still predominant in Italy, the National Health Institute (ISS) said on Wednesday, releasing data of...

France's Macron: mandatory COVID-19 jab is an option 15 Dec 2021 - 11:38 pm

PARIS- French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday it was possible the COVID-19 vaccine would eventually be made compulsory in France, but said...

Greece requires Covid tests from travelers, including from EU 15 Dec 2021 - 08:28 pm

Greece will require all visitors traveling to the country, including those from fellow European Union countries, to present a PCR test taken within...

Lioness at Belgian zoo tests positive for COVID-19 15 Dec 2021 - 08:17 pm

BRUSSELS- A lioness in a Belgian zoo has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and the members of her pride have gone into isolation in...

UK reports record daily COVID cases with Omicron spreading rapidly 15 Dec 2021 - 08:07 pm

LONDON - The United Kingdom recorded its most daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday as a senior British...

Omicron is responsible for 60% of COVID cases in London: Minister 15 Dec 2021 - 08:05 pm

London: Britain's health minister Sajid Javid said on Wednesday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was now responsible for about 60% of...

Omicron infects 70 times faster but is less severe, study says 15 Dec 2021 - 03:32 pm

The omicron variant replicates around 70 times faster than delta and the original Covid-19 strain, though the infection severity is likely to be...

COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against Omicron: WHO 15 Dec 2021 - 01:58 pm

GENEVA: Preliminary evidence indicates that COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective against infection and transmission linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant, which also...

Sanofi, GSK say COVID-19 vaccine booster candidate give good immune response 15 Dec 2021 - 11:39 am

PARIS: Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said on Wednesday a single booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate provided strong immune responses, preliminary data from...

Germany to ease testing for those with COVID-19 booster 15 Dec 2021 - 12:02 am

BERLIN- Germany will exempt people who have had a booster vaccination from having to take a coronavirus test before entering some leisure facilities,...

Vaccines slightly less effective against severe COVID, deaths - WHO 14 Dec 2021 - 11:44 pm

GENEVA- COVID-19 vaccines appear slightly less effective in preventing severe disease and death but do provide significant protection, the World Health Organization (WHO)...

UK to remove all countries from COVID travel red list on Wednesday 14 Dec 2021 - 07:45 pm

LONDON- The British government will remove all 11 countries from its COVID-19 travel red list from Wednesday because there is now community transmission...

Italy to impose mandatory virus testing for EU travelers 14 Dec 2021 - 07:18 pm

Italy is set to tighten restrictions for travelers entering from other European Union countries just ahead of the busy Christmas travel season, as...

Volcanic tremors stop on La Palma but eruption may not be over 14 Dec 2021 - 07:13 pm

LA PALMA- The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma fell silent as constant tremors stopped late on Monday, though...

Pfizer confirms Covid pill's results, potency versus omicron 14 Dec 2021 - 03:31 pm

Washington: Pfizersaid Tuesday that its experimental COVID-19 pill appears effective against the omicron variant. The company also said full results of its 2,250-person...

Dutch consider early Christmas break for schools to limit COVID-19 spread 14 Dec 2021 - 03:12 pm

AMSTERDAM: The Dutch government on Tuesday said it is considering closing schools a week early for Christmas this year as coronavirus infections remain...

Scientists cautious as erupting Spanish volcano falls quiet 14 Dec 2021 - 02:22 pm

MADRID:A volcano that has been spewing lava in Spain’s Canary Islands for almost three months fell quiet Tuesday, though scientists warned the lull...